Letters to the Editor for Jan. 1, 2013

Published: Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, December 31, 2012 at 3:59 p.m.

Third party needed

This nation needs a third party.

Congress can no longer uphold its constitutional commitment because of partisan gridlock. A third party would break the gridlock when none of the three (or more) held a majority, and none would be able to block legislation without enlisting help from members of one of the other two (or more) parties.

The ideal would be a new "Moderate Party." Let the left and right wingnuts have the current Democratic and Republican names. But any third party will do, be it the Libertarians, a Conservative Party, a Liberal Party, or even (Heaven forbid) the Tea Party.

To make new parties possible, it's time to abandon the Electoral College. That system may have made sense to the framers of the Constitution, but it just does not work well in modern elections. Let's throw it out and watch the new parties arise.

Richard Shewmaker,

Gainesville

The Obamacare tax comes home to roost

Besides the fiscal cliff taxes, we have Obamacare taxes waiting or Jan. 1.

Remember Nancy Pelosi's famous words: "Pass the bill in order to know what's in it." Now 16 senators (Ds), all who voted for Obamacre, are asking that the tax on medical devices be deleted, as it is a job killer that will injure American competitiveness in the medical field.

The medical technology industry employs over 400,000 people and is responsible for 2 million skilled manufacturing jobs, half of which will disappear. Too bad they didn't read the bill first.

Can't wait until some more Obamacare surprises rear their ugly heads. Don't forget, our congressmen are exempt from this law. Thank a Democrat.

Eileen Maren,

Gainesville

Finally, a public meeting on biomass

When good people do nothing corruption and incompetence run rampant.

Kudos to Gainesville Citizens CARE for taking on GRU and the City Commission for removing the "back-out" clause in a potential violation of the Florida Sunshine Law.

City commissioners approved a settlement that allows a public meeting to discuss the bad terms of the GRU/GREC biomass contract. The meeting is scheduled for Jan. 9 at City Hall, starting at 4 p.m., and will last a minimum of four hours.

Gainesville Citizens CARE will manage the meeting. There will be no limiting by Mayor Lowe the time citizens may speak — no threatening trespass warnings — no prohibiting video presentations by citizens.

Finally, a public meeting for the public rather than serving the interests of city politicians and the out-of-state owners and operators of the GREC biomass incinerator.

Dick Stokes,

Gainesville

Good things don't outweigh bad arrests

In response to the Dec. 24 letter titled "We're proud of GPD and the work they do":

I am glad to hear of all the good things GPD does, but this fails to address the issues of bad arrests and the GPD police chief's refusal to even discuss the matter in a public forum.

I do not speak here of mistaken arrests made in good faith, but of "contempt of cop" and false arrests made with malice.

I would also suggest that those who work with GPD via citizens watch and various other groups might just have a different experience with them than those who do not.

I too am very proud of every good police person everywhere, and it is for their sake as well as ours that the few who are not need to be found out and appropriate action taken to protect us all.

V.L. Mason,

La Crosse

Oppose union-busting

We should be supporting the workers on our ports!

Hopefully the public will not fall for any of the union-busting tactics of those who represent the greedy shipping companies; the 1 percenters who still don't appreciate the contributions of their workers.

This idea of taking back hard fought for gains seems to be the new modus operandi of those trying to destroy unions and make the 99 percent nothing but wage slaves, as these corporate criminals keep trying to avoid the concept of sharing the wealth and harmony in the workplace.

We all must support the ILA in this struggle for economic justice!

Bob Tomashevsky,

Archer

Here's how to stop school shootings

It troubles me to read letters about the guns in schools issue. People really think that by arming teachers or other staff and then training them that there will be daily shoot-outs in the entry way to every school in the country.

Do these people really think a person who is coward enough to shoot unarmed children in the first place is going to try his luck against 10 or 20 armed teachers?

Too all the naysayers I say this: Arm the staff and our "next school shooting" won't happen.

<p><b>Third party needed</b></p><p>This nation needs a third party. </p><p>Congress can no longer uphold its constitutional commitment because of partisan gridlock. A third party would break the gridlock when none of the three (or more) held a majority, and none would be able to block legislation without enlisting help from members of one of the other two (or more) parties.</p><p>The ideal would be a new "Moderate Party." Let the left and right wingnuts have the current Democratic and Republican names. But any third party will do, be it the Libertarians, a Conservative Party, a Liberal Party, or even (Heaven forbid) the Tea Party. </p><p>To make new parties possible, it's time to abandon the Electoral College. That system may have made sense to the framers of the Constitution, but it just does not work well in modern elections. Let's throw it out and watch the new parties arise.</p><p><i>Richard Shewmaker,</p><p>Gainesville</i></p><p><b>The Obamacare tax comes home to roost</b></p><p>Besides the fiscal cliff taxes, we have Obamacare taxes waiting or Jan. 1.</p><p>Remember Nancy Pelosi's famous words: "Pass the bill in order to know what's in it." Now 16 senators (Ds), all who voted for Obamacre, are asking that the tax on medical devices be deleted, as it is a job killer that will injure American competitiveness in the medical field.</p><p>The medical technology industry employs over 400,000 people and is responsible for 2 million skilled manufacturing jobs, half of which will disappear. Too bad they didn't read the bill first.</p><p>Can't wait until some more Obamacare surprises rear their ugly heads. Don't forget, our congressmen are exempt from this law. Thank a Democrat.</p><p><i>Eileen Maren,</p><p>Gainesville</i></p><p><b>Finally, a public meeting on biomass</b></p><p>When good people do nothing corruption and incompetence run rampant.</p><p>Kudos to Gainesville Citizens CARE for taking on GRU and the City Commission for removing the "back-out" clause in a potential violation of the Florida Sunshine Law.</p><p>City commissioners approved a settlement that allows a public meeting to discuss the bad terms of the GRU/GREC biomass contract. The meeting is scheduled for Jan. 9 at City Hall, starting at 4 p.m., and will last a minimum of four hours.</p><p>Gainesville Citizens CARE will manage the meeting. There will be no limiting by Mayor Lowe the time citizens may speak — no threatening trespass warnings — no prohibiting video presentations by citizens.</p><p>Finally, a public meeting for the public rather than serving the interests of city politicians and the out-of-state owners and operators of the GREC biomass incinerator.</p><p><i>Dick Stokes,</p><p>Gainesville</i></p><p><b>Good things don't outweigh bad arrests</b></p><p>In response to the Dec. 24 letter titled "We're proud of GPD and the work they do":</p><p>I am glad to hear of all the good things GPD does, but this fails to address the issues of bad arrests and the GPD police chief's refusal to even discuss the matter in a public forum.</p><p>I do not speak here of mistaken arrests made in good faith, but of "contempt of cop" and false arrests made with malice.</p><p>I would also suggest that those who work with GPD via citizens watch and various other groups might just have a different experience with them than those who do not.</p><p>I too am very proud of every good police person everywhere, and it is for their sake as well as ours that the few who are not need to be found out and appropriate action taken to protect us all.</p><p><i>V.L. Mason,</p><p>La Crosse</i></p><p><b>Oppose union-busting</b></p><p>We should be supporting the workers on our ports!</p><p>Hopefully the public will not fall for any of the union-busting tactics of those who represent the greedy shipping companies; the 1 percenters who still don't appreciate the contributions of their workers.</p><p>This idea of taking back hard fought for gains seems to be the new modus operandi of those trying to destroy unions and make the 99 percent nothing but wage slaves, as these corporate criminals keep trying to avoid the concept of sharing the wealth and harmony in the workplace.</p><p>We all must support the ILA in this struggle for economic justice!</p><p><i>Bob Tomashevsky,</p><p>Archer</i></p><p><b>Here's how to stop school shootings</b></p><p>It troubles me to read letters about the guns in schools issue. People really think that by arming teachers or other staff and then training them that there will be daily shoot-outs in the entry way to every school in the country.</p><p>Do these people really think a person who is coward enough to shoot unarmed children in the first place is going to try his luck against 10 or 20 armed teachers?</p><p>Too all the naysayers I say this: Arm the staff and our "next school shooting" won't happen.</p><p><i>Lee Garner,</p><p>Gainesville</i></p>